The Ukrainian Air Force on 17/11 posted a video of a French-supplied Mirage 2000 fighter jet, showing the aircraft preparing for a mission with two R550 short-range air-to-air missiles and two external fuel tanks. Under the cockpit canopy, six symbols resembling Russian long-range cruise missiles were painted, seemingly corresponding to the number of targets it has shot down since being delivered to Ukraine.
In a subsequent image, the Ukrainian fighter jet launched a missile, though it was unclear if it was targeting a cruise missile or an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), before a flare appeared in front of the aircraft's nose.
A Ukrainian Mirage 2000 fighter jet on a mission in a video posted on 17/11. Video: Ukrainian Air Force
The Ukrainian Air Force did not explain the meaning of the painted symbols, but it has previously posted videos showing Mirage 2000s deployed to counter enemy coordinated attacks.
Parth Satam, a writer for the aviation news site Aviationist, suggested that Mirage 2000 and F-16 fighter jets are better suited for countering cruise missiles than long-range unmanned aerial vehicles. Russian drones often use propeller engines, emitting minimal heat, which can make them difficult for missile infrared seekers to lock onto.
France delivered 6 Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets to Ukraine this year. At least one of these crashed during a mission in July. The Ukrainian Air Force then stated that the aircraft was not shot down by Russia, but rather experienced a technical malfunction, forcing the pilot to eject.
 |
Missile symbols (circled in red) under the cockpit canopy of a Mirage 2000 fighter jet in a photo posted on 17/11. Photo: Ukrainian Air Force
The Mirage 2000 is a single-engine fighter jet developed by France's Dassault Aviation, entering service with the French Air Force in the 1980s. Each aircraft is 14 m long, has a 9 m wingspan, a service ceiling of 15 km, and a maximum speed exceeding 2,300 km/h. It is equipped with 9 weapon pylons and external fuel tanks, with a total payload capacity of 6,3 tons.
The Mirage 2000-5 version features upgrades to its radar and electronic systems, allowing it to utilize a wider array of guided weapons compared to earlier variants.
Pham Giang (According to Aviationist)
